It’s been the cultural hub of Lopez Island for the last ten years.
To commemorate this milestone, the board and volunteers of the Center have put together a three month long celebration which began around June and will conclude with a community dinner and awards ceremony on Oct. 10, the actual anniversary. In the weeks leading up to the Oct. 10 anniversary proper, the Center has compiled an exciting line up of events that starts in late September.
On Saturday, Sept. 26 a two piano concert with Judith Cohen and Jill Timmens will be featured.
“This concert not only showcases two very talented musicians,” Suzanne Berry, chair of the tenth anniversary committee said, “but also is an homage and an appreciation for the generous donations of the two pianos that are available to community members to use for events or privately.”
The next performance scheduled is a swing band event featuring the Swing Fever Band on Sunday Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. followed by a community potluck honoring the island’s first responders in appreciation for the tireless work they do on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. This includes EMS, fire volunteers, public works employees, ferry workers, school therapists, and many more individuals in the community that work around the clock to ensure the community’s safety.
Then on Friday, Oct. 2, the Lopez Artists’ Guild and the quilters will have a co-opening together and their joint reception takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. in celebration of their ongoing relationship with the Center. Quilts and community-generated art were hung at the opening ten years ago, and more art and quilts will be hanging through October 10 to add to the festivities of the 10th anniversary.
On Oct. 3 from 9 to 2 p.m., there will be a spruce up at the Center and potluck lunch.
“This will be an exciting and community-oriented event, focusing on spiffying up the grounds, re-painting the pavillion, repairing chairs, and refurbishing the Green Room,” Berry said.
The entire community is invited and the spruce-up will also include replanting bulbs for folks who are garden-oriented. People are encouraged to bring work gloves.
An Octoberfest starts at 1 p.m. on Oct. 4. There will be a beer garden with Lopez-made bratwurst and saurkraut. A German oompah band with dancers in tow will also teach dancing during the celebration. Tickets for a family cost 25.00 and includes food. A single ticket is 10.00. Beer, which will be available, can be purchased separately.
A Writers’ Read on October 7 at 7:30 p.m. will feature island writers Allie Smaalders, Lorna Reese, Rita Larom, Stephen Adams, Laurie Parker, and Eleanor Burke. The group will read original pieces celebrating their lives on Lopez Island.
Youth Night will feature dancing and music on Oct. 9, in the evening (details to be finalized soon).
And last but not least, on October 10 at 2 p.m. the final event will be a community potluck, which includes the presentation of the Spirit Award, and music by a plethora of local musicians. Lisa Nemzo, who opened the Community Center 10 years ago, will be returning to celebrate the Center’s anniversary along with many local musicians. There will be dancing and a widely diverse range of foods and desserts from the amazing community potluck as well as alcoholic beverages for sale. A slide show of events covering the past 10 years will finish out the evening.
“This is your Center,” Berry said. “It started out belonging to everyone, and all it needs are its members to make it what it is: a place of celebration and remembrance.”
